I won't go into much of what I've experienced in the last two years for fear of being accused of "ranting". As we all know, there are good dealers out there who care and take care of their customers. They certainly are not the problem.
To give a "Reader's Digest" version of my real concern about Kubota, it's Kubota Corporation that is dropping the ball. Anyone who has read any of my posts know that I'm not overly satisfied with my dealer. Big deal, right?! But, I have to ask you, what do you do if you are being totally brushed off by the dealer of a tractor you bought? Seriously. What do you do? You call the manufacturer, right?!
This is where Kubota Corporation is failing. Call me impatient, I don't care. Personally, I think waiting a year and a half for parts or repairs should not paint me as being impatient, but we are all able to form our own conclusions. Anyway, in the last year and a half (about every 6 months) I've made 3 serious efforts at calling and writing everyone I possibly can at Kubota Corporation to try to get problems fixed. I've called and written every number and address in the owner's manual, warranty manual, and more.
The result; I get brushed off by Kubota Corporation and sent packing back to the dealer who brushed me off in the first place. Only now, this dealer has a real attitude because Kubota has called him and told him that he has some unreasonable person who wants their Kubota product repaired and this person is trying to go around the dealer and make him look bad. Sweet. Nice system. I have gotten the exact same treatment from Kubota Corporation each and every time that I've spent days and weeks calling and writing everyone at Corporate level about known problems.
Not only does Kubota Corporation offer absolutely no assistance whatsoever, they proceed in totally ticking off a dealer who didn't want to deal with the problem in the first place. Don't be confused and think that Kubota Corporation called the dealer and chewed them out and told them to fix the problem; oh no, that is not the case at all. Kubota Corporation only sends notice to the dealer about a "problem customer".
Excuse me?! A problem customer?!! What about the defective or broken Kubota product? I will not post here again, only because I have no intention of rubbing salt in open wounds. I suppose you have to ask yourself if you think you would be a problem customer if you could not get something fixed in a year and a half; with a minimum of monthly attempts. If you think that I am unreasonable and am impatient with Kubota Corporation, then you agree with Kubota's Corporate current method of handling product problems.
I feel very fortunate in that by the power of TBN, I believe that I will get one of my issues handled. The party who helped knows who they are, and I sincerely thank them. I choose to not mention their name as to not drag them into something that is not of their doing or is their problem. They have gone well above the call of even what I consider being a friend, and has helped me with my RTV. As far as the Top n Tilt I bought for my tractor from Kubota Corporation, Kubota knows they has problems with the cylinders they use, but they positively refuse to make good on their overpriced product. I mistakenly bought the Kubota brand Top n Tilt to try to avoid problems with possible quality control issues that may exist with an unknown manufacturer. I flat out made a mistake in doing so. I should have realized that Kubota uses the cheapest hydraulic cylinders they can find. In less than 40 hours my FEL had been in the dealer 4 times for defective lift cylinders, and has had two cylinders replaced. (In case you're wondering, no I don't have a toothbar, and have never done any digging or other "hard" work with myh FEL) No debates, no sarcasm, no ranting etc., I'll just simply say I would not under any circumstances buy a Top n Tilt from Kubota ever again. Honestly, as much as I hate to say so, I'd have to say the same thing about any Kubota product at this time unless Kubota Corporation makes a change in the way they handle their customers who have a problem with one of their products.
This is not to say that I think Kubota builds sub-par products. I do not believe that. I only believe that Kubota Corporation has honestly forgotten what got them to where they are; building quality products and taking care of their customers. That is now left up to the individual dealers who have to decide how much they want to spend of their own money and of their own time to take care of their customers. Since Kubota Corporation does not provide the service, I can see where it is troublesome and costly for the individual dealers to do so. I would have to think that if Kubota Corporation continues along the same path, not only will customers like me buy other products, but I'd have to think that eventually some Kubota dealers will have to take a serious look at whether they can carry the Kubota line or not.
Feel free to disagree. I'm only expressing my experience of Kubota ownership in the last two years. For background information, I have purchased nearly two dozen new tractors in my life so far, and I have had a few that developed some issues. However, until Kubota, my problems were addressed by the dealers and the manufacturers, and I'd definitely consider purchasing any of my previous brands again in the future.